


^ 





AN 



ORATION 



DELIVERED BEIORK 



« The Associated Disciples of Washington^'' 



ON THE 22d of FEBRUARY, 1312. 

/ 



TflE FIRST JjYA'irERSJRY OF TU& 

INSTITUTION. 
By SAMUEL UrKNAPP, Esq. 

NEWBUEYPORT: 
TROM THE PRESS OF E. W. ALLB>r. 
1813. 



t- 



At the Anniversary Meeting of the " Associated Disciples ot 
Washington," held February 22, 1812, 
VotED,-^That Dr. Lawrence Sprague, Mr. ARd^iBALD 
M'Phail, and Mr. Paul Noy£s, be a Committee to present the 
thanks of the Society to Samuel L. Knapp, Esq. for the elegant 
and patriotic Oration pronounced before tliem, this day ; and to re- 
quest a copy for the press. 

Attest, JOHN R. HUDSON, Rec. Sec'y 



/ 



ORATION. 



This is the birth day of Washington. 
He was a philanthropist of unalloyed benevo- 
lence, a warrior of unparalleled success, a states- 
man of consummate sagacity, and a patriot with- 
out reproach. When living he was more loved 
and honored than any man who had lived before 
him, and when dead was more widely and deep- 
ly lamented than any man who had died before 
him. Twelve years have passed away sincQ. 
this country, with ten thousand tongues bewail- 
ed, in all the eloquence of grief, his exit to eter- 
nity. 

Friend of man, saviour and father of thy coun- 
try, sainted spirh, if thou dost behold the fallen 
state of thy once beloved country, how keen a 
pang must even now pierce thy heart, otherwise 
replete with joys of immortality ! Yes, methinks 
I see the departed father of America, before the 
throne of the Arbiter of Nations, with eyes moisr 
tened with such tears as angels shed, supplicat- 
ing mercy for a people degenerate and ungrate- 
ful to Heaven, and madly piercing their own vi-. 



tals ; that the demon of discord may no longer 
drive them upon destruciion, that they may re-* 
turn to reason, correct' principles and sound poh^ 
cy. Let us, my associated friends, enquire what 
that pohcy and those principles were, by the ope- 
ration of which, from a handful we became a na- 
tion, and which filled our basket and our store^ 
caused joy ^nd mirth to be heard in our streets, 
and made America the envy of nations, and a- 
nother name for^raitional liberty. Let us then 
examine the causes which have enfeebled our 
powers, exhausted our resources, and made us a 
reproach, a proverb, a hissing and a by-word a- 
niong the nations : And if there are any remedies 
for these evils let us investigate and ascertain 
them. 

We will not detain you to relate the painful, 
but glorious history of our revolution ; for v/e 
have dwelt often and long upon its distresses, its 
hopes and its triumphs, but will commence at 
that period; of awful rest when, exhausted by loss 
of blood and sustenance, America, — "the battle 
done," bowed her soul to the God of Armies, 
with a heart throbbing with the remembrance of 
her sufferings, and a head aching with projects 
for future days. 

If we look back to tlie conclusion of our war 
we shall find the situation of our country — v/as 
poverty, weakness and anarchy. — Our treasury 



was exhausted and we were almost bankrupt. 
At length a constitution Vv^as formed, which bind-^ 
ing all left each one free. A constitution, which 
is in theory, a combination of all that is excellent 
in ever}'^ governm.ent. — Our Sages drew not from 
one fountain alone ; for we discover principles 
in our go\''ernm.ent drawn from the wild inde- 
pendent spirit of Scythia, from the jvisdom of 
Grecian Laws, from Roman institutions, and all 
the modern governments of Europe. This con- 
sdtution brought national and individual energies 
into action. Industry was every where seen. 
Our commerce grew widi astonishing rapidity, 
Our ships Vv^ere fbu^id in every part of the v/orld. 
On the north-western coast they Avere purchasing 
of the wild and salvage nations their furs. On the 
other continent traiBcking for every article from 
the iron and hemp of Russia to the silks of Per- 
sia, *' and the spices of the Islands of the sea." A- 
mericans were once found every. where in pursuit 
of riches. The classic traveller met them among 
the tombs of the Antients, and the Pilgrira found 
them as he journied to JN(Iecca or Sinai. Truly 
it may be said the harvest of the river was her 
revenue, and she was a mart of nations, a peo- 
ple whose merchants were princes, and whose 
traffickers were the honorable of the earth. 

Washington and his compatriots understood 
the tiOi^ principles of nal,ional dignity j the pow- 



er and consequence we had in Europe, and ef- 
fected treaties with the different nations, that 
contain more generous and expansive principles 
of national law than can be found in history. 
The offices of government were filled with men 
of correct views, honorable feelings, and tried 
virtues. The measures pursued by Washington 
not only gave us peace, prosperity and praise, 
but habits to sentiment and elevation to intellect. 
The refinement of modern Europe was incorpoi 
fated vmh the stern and primitive manners of 
our country, and the union exhibited strength 
witliout ferocity, and taste without sensuality. 
Under this wise administration the progress of 
civilization was wonderfully rapid. The charms 
of literature reached the humblest walks of life, 
and changed roughness and barrenness to cour- 
tesy and knowledge. In remote country villages 
were found men capable of filling high offices of 
trust and honor. While the active, industrious, 
and enterprizing were gaining wealth, genius was 
developing itself in useful inventions, and devis- 
ing plans of general utility ;— and in fine, the 
whole system of administration was formed with 
so much wisdom, and put in motion by such ad- 
mirable policy, that we became a theme for spec- 
ulative philosophers, and a pattern for statesmen. 
All the measures of Washington were open, hold 
md fair, no mean subterfuges, no equivocal con- 



duct, no paltry double-dealing-, disgraced his act- 
ministration. He was a stranger to that misera^ 
ble jargon of fear, phrenzy and hypocrisy ; that 
despicable evasion of important subjects, by mi- 
nute attention to trivial matters, which have so 
often insulted the ears of our present legislators. 
Washington's advice to congress, his recommen- 
dations, his legacies, his interchange of offices of 
civility, were expressed in language pohshed as 
that written at Athens, and plain, pointed, and 
pithy as that spoken at Sparta. He did not give 
us a few sentiments only on the great belliger- 
ents, and occupy whole columns on our red 
brethren. 

Fain would I draw a vail over the Allien for- 
tunes of my country, and dwell v/ith lingering 
delight on that era of happiness, that reign of 
Apollo ; but strict duty, stern necessity, and anx- 
ious wishes for our future welfare demand that 
we should boldly trace the progress of our de- 
generacy, and the baleful history of our debase- 
ment. In the morning of creation, the serpent 
lurked in the garden of God, to seduce innocence 
and destroy tranquillity ; and in our political par- 
adise were spirhs of the same bloated malignity, 
the same fascinating arts, and the same cursed 
falsehoods ; they poisoned the minds of the un- 
wary, and ignorant, and foolishly ambitious, and 
they may now revel in the same joys which elat- 



cd tlieir great archetype, after the success of llis 
labours. 

Difficuhies which at first bowed to the talents, 
and character of Washington, were soon discov- 
ered to exist among Us. The extent of the coun* 
try was too great for a perfect political sympa- 
thy between distant sections. Aspiring dema- 
gogues seized every prejudice and complaint, 
and alarmed, with the cry of danger to liberty^ 
the jealous and uneasy. 

At this time, the French revolution poured on 
the world a flood of loose sentim.ents of morality^ 
and religion, extravagant notions of human per- 
fectability, and fanciful, and delirious theories 
of government. These witcheries of folly, and 
wickedness drove from us that regard to sober 
things, that love of wholesome restraint, that 
dread of the consequences of vice, which is the 
"preservation 'of laws and the stability of govern- 
ment. As soon as the standard of oppo: ition 
was reared, hosts flocked to it daily. The un- 
principled ambitious were there, as leaders, mak- 
ing inflammatory harrangues, and spreading in- 
famous falsehoods. The restless and unhappy 
joined ; for no change could bring them misery, 
and many of the timid followed from fear. We 
will not be so uncharitable as to suppose, that 
there were not some men of honest intentions 
who v/ere gulled by specious arguments and 



plausible subtleties. Young men were courted, 
and many of them at an age when they were in- 
competent judges of a proper course, were allur- 
ed by promises of honor, and emolument ; and 
when the reigns of government came into demo- 
cratic hands, were rewarded by offices from 
which were thrust, the aged, poor, and infirm, 
who had shed their blood to obtain the revolution. 
How many from whom better things were expect- 
ed ? How many of fair promise^ and virtuous 
commencement, have swerved from the true 
faith ? But even in this dark hour of our politic- 
al adversity, in this tremendous conflict against 
profligacy, in this appalling and overwhelming 
national shame, it lights a glow of pride on every 
honest cheek to view the still unbroken phalanx 
of federal worthies, that have not bowed the 
knee, nor uneased their armour, but incessantly 
fought with might and valour against the sweep- 
ing march of democracy. It may be thought 
improper to single from this sacred band, any in- 
dividual v/orthy, but the truly great are not envi- 
ous, and we will indulge ourselves, a moment, in 
pourtraying a statesman of our own Common- 
wealth, Harrison Gray Ous. From his cradle as 
from Plato's, swarmed the Hyblean bees, and 
left the honies of eloquence on his tongue. Mi- 
nerva was his tutelar Gpddess, but the Graces 
had no small share in his education. His polit- 
B 



10 

ical course was early shaped, and from the 
dawn of manhood to this his meridian day, he 
has been a firm, undeviating disciple of Wash- 
ington. Long in public life, he has constantly 
been the champion of the cause he espoused. In 
every political contest he has carried terror, and 
dismay into the ranks of his opponents, searched 
the dark caverns of corruption and intrigue, and 
dragged, with Herculean strength, each Cacus 
to the light, and held him up for the contempt 
and derision of the world. ' Democracy knew his 
worth, and has used every endeavour to allure 
him to come over to her cause. Mighty meads 
of honor have been hinted as his rewards, but he 
did not yield. We love him, for he has frequent- 
ly turned aside from his labours, and with rever- 
ence, and homage, sacrificed at the tomb of the 
immortal Hamilton. No en^, which disturbs 
little minds, chafed his breast, but penetrated 
with grief he shed upon Hamilton's grave, such 
tears as genius weeps at the loss of kindre^ 
souls. 

The most deeply shaded picture, that imagina- 
tion can paint, of the situation of our coimtry, 
gives but an imperfect impression of the truth. 
Her commerce gone, her treasury exhausted, 
and the most inventive financiers incapable of 
forming any plan to replenish it, save the misera- 
ble expedients of loans or direct taxes : — Indi- 



11 

\Fidaals, who lately were opulent, and in exten- 
sive business, " whose words would pass for more 
than they were worth," straightened, embarrass- 
ed, making shifts, and use managements, that in 
better days they would have despised, and final- 
ly losing property, and reputation together, are 
but some of the faint outlines of the reality. This 
demoralizing effect of the present system is most 
of all to be deplored. It is painful to see ruined 
families, but it is more painful to see so many 
ruined characters. Loss of property, disappoint- 
ed hope, abortive exertions, united with evil bod- 
ings for the future are* sufficient to destroy that 
strict punctuality, that zealous regard to pledges 
of honor, without which the lofty character of a 
merchant would dwindle to a wretched sharper. 
The rage of politics has broken down the 
mounds of civil order, and trampled on domestic 
peace. The Judicary, that noblest bulwark a- 
gainst " the spasms of infuriated man," that last 
rampart which anarchy attacks, has been out- 
rageously assailed ; and indeed all its minor parts 
have been moulded to suit the demagogues of 
the day. This Temple of Justice, where I now 
stand, v/as lately honoured, probably for the last 
time, by the official presence of a man, whose 
character exhibits the '' hardihood of antiquity." 
Who in the business of his country was distin- 



12 



guishcd for independence, and intrepidity. He 
was distant, and severe to the disorderly, and in- 
triguing ; but bland, and conciliatory to the in- 
telligent, and worthy ; and now, deprived of all 
offices by an ungrateful people, lives a noble ex- 
ample of that loftiness, and irresistible energy im- 
parted by virtue. Essex was the birth place, and 
is the present residence of this patriot ; and her 
sons will mentionnhe name of Pickering, with 
pride, as long as they can appreciate greatness, or 
love independence. The Judges of the Supreme 
Court of our State stand like a group of mountain 
oaksj lofty and lonely ; the forest once around 
them having been rived, and schathed by the 
lio-htning, or consumed by the fiames ; but how 
long the wiurlwinds of faction may spare them ; 
God only knows. 

If this is our deplorable condition, in what con- 
sists our hopes ? In a large body of firm and 
steadfast federalists, who have undauntedly with- 
stood every shock ; the head of the heap, oi first 
weight and most excellent flour, from which the 
chaff has been separated. Rectitude of mind, a 
conscience approving their former inflexibility, 
and perseverance, and which still urges them to 
make resistance, is v/orth more to these men 
than the highest emokiments of office, or any 
measure of perishable praise. Making the worst 



13 



calculations for poor human nature you can, 
these men will not grow tame, nor their numbers 
be diminished ; for the loaves and fishes are all 
distributed, and our opponents have nothing left 
to gratify ambition, to tempt avarice, or cnsnave 
poverty. 

But however exalted the deeds, and pure the 
patriotism of the present actors on the busy scene 
of life, the perfect day of new things must be 
looked for from the rising race. With strength 
yet unseen, and unexercised, with knowledge 
drawn from pure fountains, with every motive 
to exertion, they will come forward to retrieve 
their country's name. They will not feel the . 
friendships, nor hatreds which v/ere produced by 
the revolution ; but will have a fair opportunity 
to judge nations by the scale of honor and pro- 
bity. Yes, my associated friends, there will spee- 
dily be a wide stage for you to act on. The 
names nov/ most bruited through the land will 
soon be lost, and forgotten. The most obstreper- 
ous notes of Fame have in them the least immor- 
tality ; the ear of Time will not catch them, nor 
will he write them in his eternal annals. 

It is time to pause, and turn from this general 
view, and develope the designs'^f our institution. 
A knowledge of the alarming crisis ii/the aiTairs 
of our country, a belief that something might be 



14 

done to rouse us from despondency, and a wish 
to assist those who are manfully stemming the 
current of oppression, and bearing the heat and 
burthen of the day, was the origin of this associa- 
tion. The means to produce these ends are a 
studious attention, a strict adherence, and a sa« 
cred regard to the principles of Washington ; 
with an unceasing assiduity in propagating these 
principles by every fair, honorable, and lawful 
method. Virtue is often slothful, and indifferent, 
while vice is active, insinuating, and seductive ; 
therefore, we must not grow disgusted with negli- 
gence, and v/ant of energy nor vexed with inti- 
mations of want of success. Every thing that is 
valuable is attained with great difficulty, and 
" nothing with more labour, and pains than the 
blessings of good gvernment. Faint hearts 
would not have poured out their blood at the 
su'aits of Therinopylce, nor feeble hands gained 
the battle of Marathon. The price of liberty is 
high, and the mean, cowardly, and slothful can 
never make the purchase. The most popular 
governments are more frequently in jeopardy 
than any others. It was a Roman maxim, and 
full of wisdora, never to despair of the Common- 
wealth ; and it should be our motto under op- 
pression and in the worst of times. In one word, 
our whole duty consists in acting with vigour 



15 

vmitedly, what in duty we were bound to perforin 
separaicly. 

If prudence, intelligence and zeal are found a- 
mong us, every friend of good government will 
be our friend, and this society embrace the aged 
and wise as well as the youthful and gay — I be- 
lieve in sr.ch a result, I will enjoy such anticipa- 
tions, and lift my voice to this assembly as mem- 
bers of this association. 

Although, we have all one common interest 
yet as there are some circumstances peculiar to 
us,at different ages, you will permit me to address 
you more particularly as if of different classes. 
You, my venerable political fathers, have seen 
much of national vicissitude, and of the instabili- 
ty of man. You have witnessed the creative 
power of patriotic union, and the desolating ef- 
fects of party discord. You have seen a nation 
born, watched its wonderful progress in size, 
beauty and strength, and alas ! you now witness 
its premature decripitude. You have seen this 
nation by mysterious artifices lulled to sleep, shorn 
of its locks, and deprived of its eyes, and near be- 
ing delivered up to the Philiistines, alternately to 
grind in their prison, or to make them sport for 
their Dago?i. If this country utterly fall, you 
and your compatriots mu.st stand acquitted ; all 
that men could do you have done. Still aged as 
you are you must not ungird your armour, nor 



16 

quit the field, your counsels must direct our 
movements, and j^-our presence animate us. If 
withdrawn from the conflict, thousands despair- 
ing of the cause will desert our standard. Your 
wisdom, experience, and long tried love of your 
country, give us confidence in you as our lead- 
ers, and cheer us with the hope of success. The 
cause of freedom is not desperate. Maimed, 
blinded and misled as this nation is, it may still 
be renovated. The spirit of independence slum- 
bers but is not dead. Suporiiics have been per- 
fidiously administered to the people to produce 
this lethargy ; an antidote must be found, that 
this sleep be not unto death. The present time 
promises some success in applications. Symptoms 
begin to appear, which indicate that this lethargy 
may soon be terminated. Strong palpitations and 
spasms are seen. The senses are occasionally 
unlocked,* and there appears a restlessness and 
writhing of the whole system. These may be 
indications of approaching dissolution, but I trust 
they are those of recovery. I cannot but hope, 
that, before you are called to that rest, which re- 
maineth for those worn out in the labours of vir- 
tue, you will see our country unhed, and pros- 
perous. If this should not be the case, do not 
think that your toils, and anxieties are useless. 
Your memories, and characters will lead your de- 
scendants into political rectitude. Although your 



17 

your motives and actions may have been mis- 
represented, your plans thv/artej, your charac- 
ters defamed, and your hopes disappointed by 
faction, your labours for your country's Welfare 
will not be lost. " God rewardeth the patriot.'' 
Upon you, my friends, who are of* that age 
which is free from the precipitancy of youth, 
and which promises strength, and justness of 
conception, and promptitude of action, your 
country has great claims. As in religion we 
cannot expect salvation by crying. Lord ! Lord ! 
while we do not the things he says, so in our na- 
tional politics it will profit us nothing to cry, pat- 
riotism ! patriotism ! if we neglect the duties it 
enjoins. Knowledge and religion are the pillars 
by which liberty is supported. If these are 
weakened the edifice totters ; if they are destroy- 
ed, it falls. You must therefore readily and con- 
stantly give your voice, your exertions, your ex- 
amples and a portion of your property, for the 
support of those institutions whose object is to 
promote virtue, knowledge, and religion, even if 
they are not modelled, and regulated precisely 
according to your wishes. These institutions 
are anchors which may enable us to ride out 
many a storm, but if tliese are lost nothing can 
save us from being wrecked upon rocks and 
quicksands. You must be constantly upon the 

watch against intrigue and artifice, for democra- 
C 



»8 

cy is perpetually in ambush and springs upon its 
prey in the dark. You must act in harmony. 
One common interest, the indepedence and hap- 
ness of your country, must bind you to each 
other. Occasional difTerences of opinion and 
clashings of private interest must be sacrificed. 
Those who rather than make this sacrifice should 
embrace democracy, would be but little better 
than he, ^ho, to revenge a trifling injury received 
from one of his brethren should thrust a poinard 
into the heart of their common mother. Free- 
dom was your inheritance, and you must transmit 
it to yovu' children, lest they should hereafter 
have cause to exclaim, — behold ! the ruins of the 
goodly fabric of liberty, founded by the valour, 
raised by the toil, and cemented with the blood of 
our ancestors, but wrested from our fathers, and 
demolished before their eyes. Our fathers have 
indeed given us the blood of freemen, but left us - 
slavery for our patrimony. At the view of this 
picture I see the breast of the parent, and the pa- 
triot swell with indignation. Indulge these emo- 
tions; they are a security against degradation and 
a pledge to your children and your country. 

Many of you my younger friends, are in a situa- 
tion somewhat "like that in which Hercules is re- 
represented to have been, when solicited by his ^ 
celestial visitants to decide on a course of life. 
Each proposed her own system, and used her own 



1^ 

means and arguments to persuade the youth — 
Federalism and Democracy, like Minerva and Ve- 
nus, soFicit you to decide on a future political 
course of life. In some respects,- however, your 
situation differs from that of Hercules. Those 
who solicit you are not both of celestial origin, nei- 
therdoes democracy exactly represent the lovely 
and fascinating appearance of the soft Goddess 
of pleasure. — Hearken to Democracy. " Sweet 
sons of liberty, it is time for you to employ your 
thoughts upon that way of life you ought to 
choose ; be my friends and follow me : I will 
lead you into the possession of power, offices, 
and honours. You need not be at the trouble of 
acquiring what is absolutely called merit. It will 
be no recommendation to you in obtaining my dis- 
tinctions ; the less you have of it, the greater 
will be your claims. Some sacrifices are to be 
made, and some qualifications to be possessed, 
before you can enjoy the full fruition of my fa- 
vours. Have you written upon your heart or 
bound about your neck the instructions of abig- 
otted father, they must be erased from your heart, 
and torn fi'om your neck, or they will frequently 
incommode and obstruct you, in your career o^ 
glory. Do you cherish vvrhat is denominated a 
sense of honour, you must crush the viper, or it 
will frequently sting you. Do you blush at the 
mention of a fault, you must rid yourself of that 



20 

weakness, or it will frequently expose you ; but 
^f you blush only at the mention of your, virtvies, 
you need not, after a few months, be under any 
appreliensions. You must begin by denouncing 
the Federalists as tyrants, although you may be 
fully convinced, that they are the only true 
friends to liberty. You must curse Great-Britain, 
yea, curse bitterly; spurn regular occupation, and 
harangue at the corners, in tippling shops and 
taverns, where you will; aiy/ays find a full audi- 
ence of the sons of freedom. As all offices in a 
republican government \i^ open to eloquence, if 
you have a weak voice., spend some. time. upon 
the sea beach, and exercise your lungs till you 
can outroar the roaring, of the billows, that dash 
against the shore ; for strength of voice is the 
first, second, and third rpquishe for an orator. 
When you have attained to this, command what 
honour, or of&ce, you will ; it is yours. If you 
wish for riches get appointed Treasurer of State, 
or Collector of the revenue. If conscience, that 
bugbear of federalists, approach you, and tell you 
that you must, be accountable hereafter, disregard 
it, for if you should hereafter" be called to ac- 
count, there will be so many of you that you may 
easily excite an insurrection, like your great pre- 
decessors. 

Will you hearken for a few mom.ents to the 
voice of Federalism. " Young men, I offer my- 



21 

self to you, because, I know you descended from 
patriotic parents, and 'giye proofs of the descen^ 
by your love to virtue ; this makes me hope, that 
you v/ill gain both for yovirself and me an im- 
mortal reputation. But before I invite you into 
my society, and friendship, I will be. open and 
sincere with you, and must lay down this, as an 
established truth, that there is nothing truly valua- 
ble, which can be purchased without pains, and 
labour. Heaven hath set a price upon every 
thing great and noble. Before you become my 
frieuds you must be the true friends of your 
country. Her safety must be your care, her prospe- 
rity the object of your exertions, and her honour, 
your pride. You must be supporters of order 
guardians of religion, and promoters of useful 
knowledge. You must carefully watch the re- 
moving of ancient political land-marks, remem. 
bering that innovation is not reform. Be not so- 
licitous for public honors and distinctions. Be 
anxious to deserve, but not to obtain them. If, 
indeed you embark in my cause you must be 
prepared for your duty in any station, not only 
when the winds of Heaven gently waft you, but 
when the waves toss, the tempest roars, and 
death threatens. Your reward shall be that of a 
patriot, conscious worth, and approving Heaven. 
Trust not the voice of democracy. She pretends 



22 

to be the friend of republican government, but 
her government is anarchy, " uproar and wild 
misrule." She bpasts much of liberty, but her 
liberty is licentiousness ; and her freedom is sla- 
very. She offers you honours, but her honours 
are infamy. She engages to exalt you to office, 
but her promotion would degrade you. She 
promises you po\ver, but her power must be used 
only in destroying what is fair, and good. She 
may oiler you riches, but her gifts must be the 
price of your integrity and the fruit of peculation. 
Embrace her not, WcJk not after her, her st<?ps 
lead down to the chambers of death. 

Your fathers fought for me, cheerfully laboured 
in my service ; protected my honour, and some 
of them have already gone to receive the rewards 
of virtue. Their blood flows in your veins, let 
their principles animate your hearts, and make 
you emulous of their v/orth. Liberty and inde- 
pendence are your birthright, let them not be 
obtained from you by a price, nor stolen from you 
by subtilty. Believe me, my young friends, if 
ever you wear the chains of slavery, they will be 
forged by Democracy.'* 

I have, my associated friends, expressed th ese 
political opinions, honestly, and fearlessly ; they « 
are such as, I believe, you cherish and will de- 
fend. No rancour, no malice, no irritation tinge s 



2S 

a single thought I have laid before you ; they ar?t 
the undisguised sentiments of my soul, the delibe- 
rate dictates of my understanding, spoken with 
republican freedom to true republicans of inde" 
pendeiat minds* 



FLVIS. 

>^4 



•^4- 



.ov OF CONGRESS 




